Gretsch: a personal history

During its long history, Fender has navigated several tricky turning points, but 1965 marks for some the start of a decline from the standards set by Leo’s original company. Is that view still justified?

1957 Gretsch 6120s in such super condition are scarce. But this example has the rare distinction of being the one that the Led Zeppelin guitarist gave away

Not only does this 1969 Tele illustrate Fender’s slowly changing post-Leo period, it also documents a lot of modding. Dave Burrluck should know – he was there!

If you always believed the CBS takeover transformed Fender guitars overnight, then think again because there were fewer changes than you might have imagined

Musical instruments have power, simply as things. They speak. They generate emotion. They tell stories about life, death, happiness and sadness – and about the past, which they can resurrect with curi

In the mid-60s John Lennon bought a Framus 12-string acoustic and used it with The Beatles in the studio. 60 years later the company has reissued the model in all its fab finery – and it now comes with a little help from a friend!